Families of Once crash victims mark anniversary, renew justice claims

Families of the 2012 train crash reunited at the BA City station of Once to mark a new anniversary of the accident and honour their loved ones.

Families of the 52 people who lost their lives on February 2012 when a Sarmiento line train crashed into the BA City station of Once marked a new anniversary of the crash that plunged society here into grief, prompting strong condemnation of the state of Argentina’s railway system.

Less than a month ahead of the trial that will put in the dock ex Kirchnerite officials, business leaders and the engine driver, the emergency siren started to ring at 8.32 am marking the time when the accident took place exactly two years ago at the Once station.

Pablo Menghini Rey is the father of Lucas Menghini –a 20-year-old who remained disappeared for two days till his body was found between the third and fourth cars.

“Two years ago, exactly at this time, our lives changed forever, the life of this country was changing forever, because corruption, the lack of respect to life, to citizens, the lack of care was ripping out of us 52 innocents,” Lucas’ dad said as he led the conmmemorative event. “This is the mourning day of a country that saw 52 people died as a result of corruption, victims of power and carelessness that kill. All this day will signify the search of justice,” he added and called to keep “memory alive.” “It is impossible to have justice without memory,” Pablo affirmed.

By noon, a mass was given to honour the victims at the Buenos Aires City Metropolitan Cathedral and a demonstration in the Plaza de Mayo square was organized and headed by TV and radio presenters Sebastián Wainraich and Gabriela Radice. Social and political leaders as well as human rights organizations joined the rally.

"A Government that says it's always on the side of the most needed has completely abandoned us. The main responsible for the lack of responses we have is President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner", María Luján del Rey, mother of Lucas and wife of Pablo said in the rally at Plaza de Mayo.

The beginning of the Once tragedy trial has been set for March 18 against 29 defendants including business leaders Mario and Claudio Sergio Cirigliano who were running the concessionary company TBA by the time of the accident, ex transport secretaries Juan Pablo Schiavi and Ricardo Jaime and driver Marcos Córdoba.